To Mabel and Emily Kerr

Thanks, thanks, fair Cousins, for your gift
 So swiftly borne to Albion’s isle—
Though angry waves their crests uplift
 Between our shores, for many a league!

(“So far, so good,” you say: “but how
 Your Cousins?” Let me tell you, Madam.
We’re both descended, you’ll allow,
 From one great-great-great-grandsire, Noah.)

Your picture shall adorn the book
 That’s bound, so neatly and moroccoly,
With that bright green which every cook
 Delights to see in beds of cauliflower.

The carte is very good, but pray
 Send me the larger one as well!
“A cool request!” I hear you say.
 “Give him an inch, he takes an acre!

“But we’ll be generous, because
 We well remember, in the story,
How good and gentle Alice was,
 The day she argued with the Parrot!”